No Memory For Pain

I have a theory. I believe that the human brain cannot remember the exact feeling of pain.

When I think back to my race, I remember that it hurt. It hurt a lot. When I walk down the stairs, it hurts again because of this soreness. However, I can not remember exactly what that pain felt like. If I felt it again, I would know it’s the same. But right now in this moment, I would not be able to remember the exact feeling of the pain. I can’t remember exactly what it felt like.

I think this is a human instinct that assists us/our ancestors in survival. If we did remember this pain, we might get something like PTSD or simply be afraid to do something that may bring back that immense feeling of pain. But if we can’t remember exactly how it felt, we can go in like battle-ready people, not caring/ignorant about the repercussions.

This is how runners are able to continue day to day. It would be hard to toe the line for a race if we remembered and could experience what is about to occur.